Devolution of Great Northern Services to TfL

Joanne McCartney: Can you give me an update on TfL’s progress in persuading the Department of Transport to devolve Great Northern rail services out of Moorgate?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2021/1549.

Waking Watches and London’s Boroughs

Anne Clarke: Please provide a borough-by-borough breakdown of the number of buildings operating waking watches in London. Please also breakdown the numbers for buildings over 18m and under 18m in each borough.

The Mayor: LondonFire Brigade (LFB)[collects data for buildings with a temporary suspension of ‘stay put’ where an interim simultaneous evacuation strategy has been put in place. Such buildings would havea waking watch or evacuation management system in place which could be in the form of personnel on site or a remote monitoring system, to be determined by the Responsible Person with guidance from a competent fire safety professional.
The figures can changeon a daily basis. The number of buildings where an interim simultaneous evacuation strategy has been put in place, as of 14 May 2021, are presented by borough and by height in the table below.
Local Authority
Total blocks
Over 18 metres
Under 18 metres
Barking and Dagenham
14
11
3
Barnet
19
15
4
Bexley
3
3
0
Brent
50
35
15
Bromley
4
2
2
Camden
25
22
3
City of London
1
1
0
Croydon
30
19
11
Ealing
16
11
5
Enfield
3
2
1
Greenwich
67
58
9
Hackney
76
59
17
Hammersmith and Fulham
11
9
2
Haringey
13
7
6
Harrow
3
3
0
Havering
11
11
0
Hillingdon
13
11
2
Hounslow
19
14
5
Islington
46
25
21
Kensington and Chelsea
13
8
5
Kingston upon Thames
4
4
0
Lambeth
50
35
15
Lewisham
41
29
12
Merton
4
3
1
Newham
48
45
3
Redbridge
11
9
2
Richmond
0
0
0
Southwark
65
50
15
Sutton
4
4
0
Tower Hamlets
136
129
7
Waltham Forest
10
10
0
Wandsworth
30
29
1
Westminster
30
26
4
Total
870
699
171

LGBTQ+ Community Centre for London

Hina Bokhari: Please provide details on how you will be supporting a new LGBTQ+ community centre for London?

The Mayor: My officers have had introductory meetings with the LGBTQ+ Community Centre Board of Trustee’s to explore how I can most effectively support them to establish this important London-wide LGBTQ+ community initiative.
My officers are helping the board to use recently launched resources such as the Planning London Datahub to better understand where development sites might offer pipeline opportunities to host the community centre.
Discussions are at an early stage, but I would be happy to provide further updates as progress is made.

Data Sharing Between the Public and Private Sector

Hina Bokhari: In your manifesto you mention the importance of data sharing and harnessing data to improve our city. With so much digital innovation in our city it is important data sharing between the private and public sector is reciprocal. I am pleased that TfL has a good record of providing data to app developers for free, yet I remain concerned that this is not reciprocated. It is essential that the city’s strategic transport authority gets anonymised data back to help in transport planning. How are you working with TfL and all functional bodies of the GLA who share data to ensure we create a mutually beneficial culture of data sharing?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has been at the forefront of promoting Open Data, sharing data with a thriving community of software developers as well as directly with our customers. TfL encourages its developers to share information back to it to help in transport planning and operations. For example, Waze shares data with TfL in return for construction, collision and road closure data, and Strava is sharing data related to cycling helping inform the strategy for London’s cycling infrastructure. Furthermore, as part of the upcoming E-Scooter trial, data is going to be shared back to TfL from private operators.
TfL also has a mutually beneficial culture of data sharing with its academic partners. Its research partners gain privileged access to its data and information. In return, productive research collaborations provide TfL access to innovative, cutting-edge thinking and analytical approaches that enhance its ability to deliver its business priorities.
London’s Chief Digital Officer, Theo Blackwell, is working with London First and a wide range of private sector partners to develop a London Data Charter, which will give private sector companies the framework they need to more easily share their data with London’s public sector bodies. This work builds on public/private data sharing pilots conducted in 2020 that focused on digital inclusion, digital neighbourhoods, electric vehicle charging and London’s COVID response. Partners in these pilots included Arup, Argent, Lloyds, Microsoft, Oliver Wyman, BT, UK Power Networks, BP, Kainos, The Alan Turing Institute and TfL.
With these data sharing initiatives going forward, TfL and the rest of the GLA family will benefit and this will encourage a continuing culture of data sharing across the public, private and academic sectors.

Child Poverty

Marina Ahmad: What will you be doing in this term to help tackle child poverty across London, especially as lockdown and Covid-19 have had a significant impact on low income families?

The Mayor: I’m determined to do all I can to support those who have suffered most during the pandemic, including low-income families.
This term I’ll continue to bear down on the cost of living, for example, by building more genuinely affordable homes and keeping transport fares as low as possible. I’ll also work with London Recovery partners to create a robust safety net and connect families with the information and advice they need to maximise their incomes. To this end, I recently launched the Advice in Community Settings grant programme which builds on my successful pilot with Child Poverty Action Group that embedded welfare advisors in schools.
But the tools to truly tackle child poverty lie in the hands of the Government. I’ll continue to lobby them to retain the temporary increase to Universal Credit, extend it to other benefits and scrap policies that hit families hard like the two-child limit and benefit cap.

New Providence Wharf Fire (1)

Anne Clarke: Was the New Providence Wharf development in Poplar one of those which is subject to London Fire Brigade monitoring?

The Mayor: Yes, including through a recent fire safety audit and regular familiarisation visits by local crews which build upon an operational Premises Risk Assessment visit.

Fire Risk Assessments and Building Safety (2)

Anne Clarke: How does the failure to share information like this impact upon safety in London’s built environment?

The Mayor: Within the current regulatory framework, Inspecting Officers are only able to make an assessment of risk based on matters which they can either see (e.g. broken fire alarms or fire doors) or havebeen notifiedof(e.g. external wall system report). As Inspecting Officers do not carry out intrusive inspections there may be deficiencies within premises that are not visible. Consequently, documentation from Competent Persons may be required toidentifypotentialissuesandremedial work to correct them.Failure to share this information preventsofficers from taking necessary enforcement action to address any potential deficienciesthat are not visible.

Fire Risk Assessments and Building Safety (3)

Anne Clarke: How does the failure to share information like this impact upon the work of the Brigade?

The Mayor: Delaysor failure toprovideinformation canlead touse of additionalBrigaderesources, which can have an impact on available resources for other work. Itcanpotentially lead to fire safety issues being unresolved for longer and increase the risk in the building to occupants and to operational fire crews. If information about issues is known, even if unresolved, measures can be put in place to reduce risk. This can include the Responsible Person putting mitigation in place and information being provided to operational crews for consideration and action as necessary.

Heritage Routemaster buses (1)

Caroline Pidgeon: A constituent would like you to address the question of whether you consider Routemaster buses as uniquely part of London's heritage? He highlights that Blackpool still runs heritage trams and San Francisco still runs heritage cable cars and street cars. Why does London not accept heritage Routemasters as an important asset, especially for visitors and tourists?

The Mayor: Whilst I do appreciate that many people have enjoyed seeing heritage Routemasters operate on our streets, there are other factors to consider in addition to the historic value of the vehicles. Unfortunately, the 15H route service did not cover its costs and had more excess capacity than required.
In addition, although it might be technically feasible to bring the vehicles up to modern standards, such as fitting new engines and find suitable ticketing equipment, this would have offered poor value for money.It would neither help us sustain the scale and connectivity of the bus network, nor offer safer, greener and easier-to-access buses with greater capacity. So, these options have not been explored in any depth or taken forward.
Transport for London (TfL) is currently exploring options for rehoming or selling the buses. I hope this may lead to the vehicles being celebrated in other ways, such as heritage days on regular routes at weekends. TfL continues to maintain London traditions in other ways, such as our iconic red livery on buses and through the work of the London Transport Museum.

Zero emissions buses (2)

Leonie Cooper: Please provide a borough-by-borough breakdown of zero emission routes.

The Mayor: The attached table lists routes with zero-emission buses for each borough.

The Mayor: 1700 attachment.pdf

Work Charters

Shaun Bailey: In your manifesto you committed to “work with partners to produce a charter for on-demand work in London” and “consult on a similar charter for creative freelancers”. When will these be published and which partners will you be working with?

The Mayor: The development of the charter for creative freelancers is underway. The charter is being co-designed over Summer and Autumn 2021 by the cohort of freelancers taking part in my Creative Freelancers: Shaping London’s Recovery Programme, a collaboration between the Local Enterprise Partnership for London (LEAP), Fuel Theatre and my Culture team. It follows research into self-employment from Centre for London, commissioned by the GLA, which consulted with workers, unions, organisations that regularly commission freelancers and academia.
A charter for on-demand work in London will be informed by the process of developing and delivering a Creative Freelancer Charter, acknowledging the shared challenges many workers in both industries face. I will engage with worker-representative groups, major platform employers, academics, training providers to understand the needs of on-demand workers in more depth and develop a charter that models best practice in pay, worker rights and conditions.

Feminist in City Hall

Marina Ahmad: How will you continue to be a feminist in City Hall during your second term?

The Mayor: As Mayor I am committed to doing everything I can to tackle the inequalities experienced by women and girls in London.
In my second term, I’ll refresh our violence against women and girls strategy so it takes a public health approach, and support calls to treat misogyny as a hate crime. To tackle economic inequality, I’ll increase the number of Good Work Standard-accredited employers adopting inclusive policies for women in the workplace.
The economic consequences of the pandemic have fallen disproportionately on women, with low-paid, ethnic minority and disabled women hit hardest. Together with five other cities, in December I launched CHANGE, the international city hub and network for gender equity. Through this network we will learn from other cities’ efforts to mainstream gender-sensitive policy and monitor progress. Building on this, and to coordinate efforts to advance gender equality after Covid-19, I’ll launch cross-sector work to review how we tackle these impacts in London.

London and PM2.5 (1)

Leonie Cooper: What level of traffic reduction is necessary to meet your ambition for London to be zero-carbon and to meet PM2.5 WHO standards by 2030?

The Mayor: I have set an ambition for London to be net zero carbon by 2030. This will require a reduction in traffic and (for those journeys that can’t be made by foot, bicycle or public transport) a shift towards zero emission vehicles.
In 2019 I published a report showing London can achieve the WHO standards by 2030. This modelling included a 9 per cent reduction in traffic compared to 2016, alongside increased alternative fuel uptake. However, this requires emissions reductions from sources I currently have limited powers over, including woodburning, commercial cooking and shipping. I urge the Government to use the upcoming Environment Bill to give London the powers we need to address these sources and adopt the WHO guideline limit for PM2.5 as a legally-binding target.
Our roadmap to meeting WHO guidelines in London by 2030 can be accessed here: https://www.london.gov.uk/WHAT-WE-DO/environment/environment-publications/pm25-london-roadmap-meeting-who-guidelines-2030

Engagement with the Armed Forces

Shaun Bailey: How do you plan to engage with the Armed Forces community during your mayoral term?

The Mayor: On the 24th June 2019 the Mayor signed the renewed Armed Forces Covenant which commits the GLA to supporting the armed forces community and includes measures around housing and employment support.
The Mayor’s Forces for London Programme delivered, by RFEA(The Forces Employment Charity), is supporting over 100 Veterans into sustained employment. The programme provides holistic support to ensure they have the best possible chance of securing employment. Over 50% of the veterans supported are from a Black Asian and Minority background and 59% have been supported into work.
AM Len Duvall OBE will continue to act as my Armed Forces Champion and with the support of my Community Engagement team will develop a programme of engagement with armed forces community and their representative organisations.

MedCity

Emma Best: How much funding are you committing to MedCity for each year of this mayoral term?

The Mayor: MedCity has a mixed funding model consisting of grant-based funding from the GLA, Research England, ERDF, Connecting Capabilities Fund and a small amount of commercial income from programmes, services and sponsorships. My 2021-22 budget includes £200,000 grant funding for MedCity. The award of the funding is subject to approval by Mayoral Decision. Funding has not been committed for future years.
MedCity is also delivering a LEAP-funded programme to support medical diagnostics SMEs. The grant funding agreement for that programme, which is scheduled to launch in June 2021, includes up to £100,000 project management for MedCity and up to £50,000 for MedCity-run events.
During the pandemic, MedCity has coordinated efforts across London’s life sciences research ecosystem, notably our world-leading research universities - resulting in increased capacity for Covid testing.
The Life Sciences sector is crucial to London’s economic recovery and resilience, and MedCity also has an important role to play in supporting that effort.

No Recourse to Public Funds

Marina Ahmad: How will you continue to campaign on the, in my view, punitive Government policy, No Recourse to Public Funds?

The Mayor: I’m proud to have advocated for people with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) during the pandemic, including calling on Government to suspend use of the condition. Londoners with NRPF face the risk of homelessness, often can’t access Universal Credit when they lose income, and children in families who are subject to NRPF conditions are prevented from accessing the same vital welfare support as their peers.
I have commissioned a cost benefit analysis looking at the effect of scrapping NRPF for particular vulnerable groups and will continue to campaign for change. I am also providing practical support. The Mayor of London website has advice and resources on immigration and employment rights for Londoners with NRPF. I have invested more than £1 million in bolstering the capacity of the immigration advice sector, including funding organisations that support people with NRPF and have committed more funding this year. Through the Immigration Advice for Rough Sleepers Fund, I have contributed £557,000 for projects which will support migrants sleeping rough to prove or obtain secure immigration status so they can move on from the streets or emergency accommodation.

Babcock International and LFB’s training contract

Anne Clarke: Are the cuts currently being implemented at Babcock International anticipated to impact upon the training contract they have with LFB?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade (LFB) have been assured by Babcock’s Contract Director that their current restructuring won’t affect their ability to fulfil the contract for the delivery of training to LFB, as the restructuring exercises will be taking place in other parts of the Babcock business.

Simultaneous Evacuation Advice and London’s Boroughs

Anne Clarke: Please provide a borough-by-borough breakdown of the number of buildings with simultaneous evacuation advice in place in London. Please also breakdown the numbers for buildings over 18m and under 18m in each borough.

The Mayor: Please see response to Mayor's Question 2021/1649.

Financial health of Londoners (1)

Marina Ahmad: How will you continue to support the financial health of Londoners over your second term?

The Mayor: The economic shock of the pandemic has had a devastating impact on the financial health of Londoners. With the crisis far from over, it’s vital that we do all we can to support those at risk of, or experiencing, financial hardship.
The Robust Safety Net recovery mission seeks to do that by raising awareness of financial rights and entitlements and ensuring every Londoner can access the support they need. This includes working with partners to improve the coordination of, and access to, social welfare legal advice and helping Londoners to maximise their incomes, deal with problem debt or resolve other complex legal issues that can negatively affect financial health.
I’ll also use my Good Work Standard to promote the London Living Wage and encourage employers to support the financial health of their employees, for example, by offering interest-free loans, implementing payroll savings schemes or signposting to trusted sources of financial advice.

Fire Risk Assessments and Building Safety (1)

Anne Clarke: The Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase 2 heard recently that KCTMO chose to withhold information from London Fire Brigade regarding 1400 outstanding fire risk assessment actions. In instances like this what powers does LFB have to ensure that buildings provide correct and full information about fire risk assessments?

The Mayor: The powers of Inspecting Officers are set out in Article 27 (1) of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO). This includes the power to “require the production of, or where the information is recorded in computerised form, the furnishing of extracts from, any records (including plans)— which are required to be kept by virtue of any provision of this Order or regulations made under it”. The significant findings of a Fire Risk Assessment are required to be kept under Article 9 (7) (a) of the RRO. Withholding this information is offence under the RRO and the Responsible Person can be prosecuted in such circumstances.

Trans Engagement

Andrew Boff: Which Trans groups are you actively working and engaging with?

The Mayor: My Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group includes three members appointed on the basis of their expertise on issues relevant to LGBTQ+ Londoners, one of whom brings specific expertise on issues relevant to trans and non-binary Londoners.
Part of advisory group members’ role is to help us to engage with different stakeholder groups. One way in which we have done this was through the development and staging of an LGBTQ+ Women's Health Event at City Hall, in conjunction with Public Health England, as part of International Women's Week 2020.
Part of the event programme, chaired by Michelle Ross, Co-founder of cliniQ, focused specifically on the health determinants and barriers experienced by trans and non-binary Londoners attempting to access appropriate health care provision. The event was attended by trans and non-binary agencies including, All About Trans, TransBareAll, Mermaids, ClinicQ, as well as Spectra, the LGBT+ Consortium and Stonewall amongst others.
Queer Britain, a charity working to establish the UK’s first national LGBTQ+ museum, represent the views of trans and non-binary Londoners views on London’s cultural offer as part of my Diversity in the Public Realm Partners Board.
Trans and non-binary stakeholders have also been engaged with throughout the pandemic as part of the London Community Response Survey and I have also funded and engaged with LGBT+ Consortium through my Civil Society Roots programme.

Breaking Down Barriers Recommendation (7)

Susan Hall: Will you commit to the recommendation in my March 2021 policy report “Breaking Down Barriers” to set up a disability employment taskforce to help address the disability employment and pay gaps in London – which are higher than the national average?

The Mayor: Our work to address inequalities experienced by disabled Londoners includes the themes considered within the Breaking the Barriers report. As per my answer to 2021/2130, I have pledged to ensure that the GLA involves and considers disabled Londoners in all our work.
Our work to create Good Work for Londoners includes efforts to address disability employment and pay gaps in London. I am committed to supporting disabled people to find and progress in work. The London Recovery Programme ‘Good Work’ mission will improve the coordination of employment support and training to ensure better access for groups, such as disabled Londoners, who sometimes fall between the cracks. It will build on the Good Work Standard to mobilise employers to adopt good employment practices and increase workforce diversity. Employers will be encouraged to support their disabled staff through inclusive recruitment, flexible working and disability leave policies, as well as gathering data and acting on disability pay gaps. My Employment Rights Hub features information about rights for disabled workers at work.

Breaking Down Barriers Recommendation (6)

Susan Hall: Will you commit to the recommendation in my March 2021 policy report “Breaking Down Barriers” to review and improve what data is collected by the GLA group on disabled people to help fight the inequalities they face?

The Mayor: Our work to address inequalities experienced by disabled Londoners includes the themes considered within the Breaking the Barriers report. As per my answer to 2021/2130, I have pledged to ensure that the GLA involves and considers disabled Londoners in all our work. My Social Evidence Base provides City Hall, policy makers and civil society in London with transparent and rigorous evidence on equalities data. It includes data on disability as well as evidence of the inequalities experienced by Londoners, including disabled people, in areas such as housing, education, employment, transport, crime, health, social integration, culture and sport.

Breaking Down Barriers Recommendation (5)

Susan Hall: Will you commit to the recommendation in my March 2021 policy report “Breaking Down Barriers” to ensuring all future Mayoral Strategies genuinely consider their impact on disabled Londoners?

The Mayor: Our work to address inequalities experienced by disabled Londoners includes the themes considered within the Breaking the Barriers report. As per my answer to 2021/2130, I have pledged to ensure that the GLA involves and considers disabled Londoners in all our work. The needs of disabled people are considered in Mayoral strategies. The GLA undertakes thorough engagement and consultation to develop Mayoral strategies including involvement of my Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Advisory Group and disability stakeholders.

Breaking Down Barriers Recommendation (4)

Susan Hall: Will you commit to the recommendation in my March 2021 policy report “Breaking Down Barriers” to review and identify gaps in the Mayor’s stakeholder engagement lists to ensure disabled groups and advocacy groups are sufficiently consulted on key decisions?

The Mayor: Our work to address inequalities experienced by disabled Londoners includes the themes considered within the Breaking the Barriers report. As per my answer to 2021/2130, I have committed to ensuring the GLA involves disabled Londoners – and considers their needs – in all our work. This includes regular stakeholder engagement meetings with disability charities and Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations including user-led civil society groups, grassroots organisations and advocacy bodies such as Inclusion London.

The Mayor: Our work to address inequalities experienced by disabled Londoners includes the themes considered within the Breaking the Barriers report. As per my answer to 2021/2130, I have committed to ensuring the GLA involves disabled Londoners – and considers their needs – in all our work. This includes regular stakeholder engagement meetings with disability charities and Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations including user-led civil society groups, grassroots organisations and advocacy bodies such as Inclusion London.

Breaking Down Barriers Recommendation (3)

Susan Hall: Will you commit to the recommendation in my March 2021 policy report “Breaking Down Barriers” to including people with disabilities in London’s recovery plans with specific considerations given to the impact on disabled Londoners?

The Mayor: Our work to address inequalities experienced by disabled Londoners includes the themes considered within the Breaking the Barriers report. As per my answer to 2021/2130, the London Recovery Programme offers an opportunity for genuine action and meaningful change to address structural inequalities which createharmful andunfairbarriers for disabled Londoners.Key opportunities include efforts to address the disability pay gap and create and promote accessible and inclusive high streets and services.

Breaking Down Barriers Recommendation (2)

Susan Hall: Will you commit to the recommendation in my March 2021 policy report “Breaking Down Barriers” to review the membership of your advisory boards and panels to identify any gaps where disabled people are being under-represented?

The Mayor: Our work to address inequalities experienced by disabled Londoners includes the themes considered within the Breaking the Barriers report. As per my answer to 2021/2130, I have pledged to ensure that the GLA involves and considers the needs of disabled Londoners in all our work. I also pledge to do everything in my power to fight for equal access and equal opportunities for deaf and disabled Londoners.
I have increased, and will continue to increase, representation of disabled people on Mayoral boards and advisory group to ensure their voices influence decision making.

Breaking Down Barriers Recommendation (1)

Susan Hall: Will you commit to the recommendation in my March 2021 policy report “Breaking Down Barriers” to work with boroughs, disability groups and businesses across London to establish a platform where disabled people can find disabled accessible venues and areas to help make London more accessible and inclusive for disabled people?

The Mayor: My work to address inequalities experienced by disabled Londoners covers the themes considered within the Breaking the Barriers report.
I have pledged to ensure that the GLA involves and considers the needs of disabled Londoners in all our work. I also pledge to do everything in my power to fight for equal access and equal opportunities for deaf and disabled Londoners. The needs of disabled people are considered in Mayoral strategies. I have increased, and will continue to increase, representation of disabled people on Mayoral boards and advisory groups to ensure their voices influence decision making.
As well as asking Transport for London to develop its future step-free access programme and to provide guidance on removing access barriers, I will work with disabled Londoners in a new Access Initiative that addresses obstacles to access in our public places, local high streets and beyond.
The London Recovery Programme also offers an opportunity to address the inequalities that have long existed in London – including key opportunities to promote accessible and inclusive high streets and services as well as help Londoners into good work.
This is why I will do what I can at City Hall to empower disabled Londoners on issues such as addressing the disability pay gap, investment to tackle disability hate crime and workplace discrimination.
I will also continue to call on Government to play its part by bringing forward its long-awaited disability strategy and delivering a fit-for-purpose social care system which enables independent living and respects the rights of disabled people.

Bus Drivers forced to clean their own Bus Cabs during Covid-19 Pandemic

Keith Prince: It has come to my attention that during the Covid-19 epidemic, a TfL Bus Contractor pressured its bus drivers working outside London to clean their own bus cabs to ensure Covid-19 protection after their shifts were completed. Are you aware of any TfL Bus Contractors who similarly pressured London bus drivers to carry out such tasks?

The Mayor: No, I’m only aware that the London bus network adopted enhanced cleaning of vehicles with anti-viral agents to protect everyone and provided cleaning materials to drivers at changeover points for enhanced cab hygiene. If there were instances of anyone being pressurised, I would hope their staff representatives would raise these issues with the companies concerned.

Helping Black Cab Drivers (1)

Keith Prince: Given the current economic climate, do you believe it is reasonable to expect any black cab drivers to replace their vehicles with an electric cab in the next two years?

The Mayor: London’s taxi trade has led the way in the early adoption of Zero Emission Capable (ZEC) technology and Transport for London (TfL) has now licensed over 4,000 of these vehicles. Poor air quality is a public health crisis and I remain committed to taking action to protect Londoners’ health.
I recognise the economic impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the taxi trade, alongside many other professions across London and the rest of the UK. TfL has taken a range of measures to help support the trade throughout the pandemic, including licensing some vehicles for an additional period of six months at no cost to licensees, and the distribution of medical grade face masks, Dettol hand sanitiser and stickers reminding passengers of the requirement to wear a face covering.
Drivers who switch to ZEC vehicles continue to receive a £7,500 grant for the purchase of a ZEC taxi. £30m has been made available to help remove older vehicles from the fleet and 310 rapid charge points have been installed, 83 of which are dedicated to taxi-only use.

Helping Black Cab Drivers (2)

Keith Prince: If you recognise that forcing black cab drivers to switch to an electric vehicle at this time would be unreasonable, will you extend taxi age limits until London is further into its economic recovery?

The Mayor: I have taken action to tackle toxic air pollution in London, which remains the biggest environmental risk to the health of all Londoners. It harms our lungs, worsens chronic illnesses such as asthma, lung and heart disease, and puts the health of our children at risk. Furthermore, emerging evidence has linked air pollution with an increased vulnerability to the most severe health impacts of COVID-19.
Given this, it remains vital that we continue to reduce emissions from the taxi fleet. A reduction in emissions from taxis is a significant part of achieving legal pollution limits. The phased approach to diesel taxi age limits, alongside support for delicensing and the uptake of Zero Emission Capable (ZEC) taxis, means we are back on track to meet the 2025 legal requirement to reduce NOx emissions from taxis by 65 per cent compared to 2013 levels.
As described in my response to question 2021/1950, I have made available a significant support package for drivers.

Disability Pay Gap

Susan Hall: What was the disability pay gap in London for each year since 2016?

The Mayor: 2016
17.0%
2017
12.3%
2018
17.0%
2019
16.6%
The pay gap for 2020 will be available shortly. There is more detail on the London Datastore pages.

Ethnicity Pay Gap

Shaun Bailey: What was the ethnicity pay gap in London for each year since 2016?

The Mayor: 2016
27.0%
2017
28.3%
2018
26.6%
2019
28.2%
The pay gap for 2020 will be available shortly. There is more detail on the London Datastore pages.

Gender Pay Gap

Shaun Bailey: What was the gender pay gap in London for each year since 2016?

The Mayor: 2016
16.2%
2017
16.7%
2018
16.7%
2019
17.6%
2020
18.2%
There is more detail on the London Datastore pages.

Ethnicity Employment Gap

Shaun Bailey: What was the ethnicity employment gap in London for each year since 2016?

The Mayor: Percentage point gap
2016
-12.3
2017
-12.4
2018
-13.2
2019
-12.2
2020
-11.5
There is more detail on the London Datastore pages.

Universal Basic Income pilot

Marina Ahmad: How much would it cost the GLA to introduce a three-year Universal Basic Income pilot in London, with at least 1,000 Londoners? Is this something that the Government should fund?

The Mayor: The GLA has not calculated the cost of implementing a Universal Basic Income pilot in London. However, the cost is likely to be of such a scale that it would need to be funded by central government.
For example, a pilot carried out in Finland in 2017 gave 2,000 participants payments of around £480 every month for two years. Therefore, a similar pilot for 1,000 people across three years would cost well over £17 million.

Older Londoners

Marina Ahmad: How will you support older Londoners during your second term?

The Mayor: I will continue to work with partners to make London an age-friendly city.
I will protect the Freedom Pass and the 60+ Oyster Card and deliver the Dial-a-Ride and Taxicard schemes. I am asking Transport for London to develop its future step-free access programme in collaboration with older Londoners, and to review the way TfL currently supports accessibility across the network.
I will deliver more housing that meets the needs of older people, build on initiatives to tackle loneliness and expand efforts to get more older Londoners online.
Building on the progress I have already made to make London a Dementia Friendly city, I will also work with the city’s cultural institutions through a dementia-friendly venue charter. I will also look at ways we can make our city at night inclusive and accessible to all age groups.

Period Poverty

Marina Ahmad: How will you continue to work towards reducing period poverty across London in your second term?

The Mayor: Period poverty is a form of gender-based poverty which puts the health of many women and girls at risk. Like fuel poverty and food insecurity, it is a manifestation of wider poverty. Through the London Recovery Programme, I’m working with partners to build a robust safety net for Londoners in or at risk of financial hardship.
I have welcomed the landmark roll-out of free period products in schools last year. Throughout the lockdowns, my officers have helped schools distribute products to young people at home. I will champion and support efforts to extend the provision of free period products in other public spaces, and learn from pilots in London boroughs like the recent ‘P-Card’ scheme trialled in Lambeth, Southwark, Hackney and Barking and Dagenham. MOPAC will continue to work with the Metropolitan Police Service’s detention unit to ensure all detainees are offered hygiene products whilst in custody.

Disability Employment Gap

Susan Hall: What was the disability employment gap in London for each year since 2016?

The Mayor: Percentage point gap
2016
-26.6
2017
-27.2
2018
-27.1
2019
-24.5
2020
-25.1
There is more detail on the London Datastore pages.

Child food insecurity

Marina Ahmad: What more can the Government do to tackle child food insecurity in London and how can Assembly Members across the Chamber support you in lobbying the Government to take child poverty and food insecurity more seriously?

The Mayor: According to the Food Foundation’s latest report regarding the impact of Covid-19, households with children experienced a disproportionate increase in food insecurity as a result of the pandemic, particularly lone parents, large families and low-income families.
During the pandemic, I provided emergency funding and supported London-wide infrastructure to ensure food reached families in need. I also joined charities and campaigners urging the Government to do more to support children experiencing food insecurity, including through the implementation of the National Food Strategy’s recommendations.
I am currently working with my team to develop further work to address food insecurity under the London Recovery Board’s Robust Safety Net mission. However, we must not lose sight of the fact children’s food insecurity is a manifestation of child poverty. Therefore, I urge Assembly Members to join me in lobbying Government to ensure the welfare system is accessible to all and provides for a decent standard of living.

Financial health of Londoners (2)

Marina Ahmad: How will you ensure that the move to a cashless society does not create a group of Londoners unable to access vital products and services?

The Mayor: Whilst cashless payments are convenient for many and have been an important tool in reducing transmission rates during the coronavirus pandemic, 2.2 million people nationally still rely heavily on cash either out of personal preference, or because they are unable to access basic financial services. Groups that are more likely to use cash include older people, people on low incomes, rough sleepers, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
It’s important that the needs of these groups are considered before decisions on payment options are made. Members of the GLA group that regularly accept payments are already engaging with Londoners on their preferences and responding to feedback. I’ll ensure that any future plans to change payment options are subject to a proper consultation.
I’ll also work with partners through the London Recovery process to support financially and digitally excluded Londoners which will help unlock access to basic financial services.

London & Partners Funding

Susan Hall: MD2773 allocates £11.7 million of funding to London & Partners, and states this is a 'one-off' allocation, due to the pandemic. How much of this allocation is considered 'one-off', how much is expected to repeat in 2022-23, and is this funding separate from the £11.2 million earmarked for London & Partners in your final budget?

The Mayor: MD2773 approves the award of grant funding of up to £11.17 million to London & Partners in the 2021-22 financial year, not £11.7m. This is not a ‘one-off allocation’ - rather MD 2773 states that ‘L&P’s one-year strategy reflects the unprecedented context of the coronavirus pandemic’.
The £11.17 million is the same figure as the £11.2 million earmarked in my budget for London & Partners for 2021-22; rounded up to one decimal place.
In my election manifesto I made clear that I will continue to champion London across the globe as a place to do business, invest, visit and study. This will be critical during the recovery from the pandemic, and investment in London & Partners will continue to be a priority for my second mayoral term.

Heritage Routemaster buses (2)

Caroline Pidgeon: During April 2021 TfL permanently halted its heritage service of 10 iconic Routemaster buses on the number 15 route. Please state where these buses have now been allocated to or sold to?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is currently exploring options for rehoming or selling the buses. I hope this may lead to the vehicles being celebrated in other ways, such as heritage days on regular routes at weekends.

Heritage Routemaster buses (3)

Caroline Pidgeon: In answer to question 2019/4029 you stated that “The current portable payment device used by conductors on the H15 heritage service cannot be modified to accept contactless payments.” However, in the last two years portable contactless payment technology has developed and become more widespread. Please set out the steps TfL took to consider its adoption over the last two years, including the use of separate mobile contactless payment readers?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2021/1419.

Heritage Routemaster Buses (4)

Caroline Pidgeon: It has been reported in the media (https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/euro-vi-retrofit-future/) that the manufacturer Cumminshas converted a Routemaster bus owned by a former Commissioner of TfL from a Euro 4 to Euro 6 engine. What evaluation did TfL undertake of adopting a similar policy for the Routemaster H15 buses? What was TfL’s cost estimate of such a policy, if such an evaluation was undertaken?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2021/1419.

Building Council Homes for Londoners

Sem Moema: How many of the 14,924 homes in the ‘Building Council Homes for Londoners’ funding programme have a) received planning permission or b) started construction to date? Please break down the figures by borough.

The Mayor: The table below shows the number of homes started on site by location that were funded through the Building Council Homes for Londoners programme. This excludes over 2,000 starts delivered by councils in other GLA Programmes within the same programme period. It is not mandatory for councils to provide details of the planning status for projects approved in the Building Council Homes for Londoners programme, however my housing team has detailed programme management measures in place to ensure that planning status, alongside other key delivery milestone events leading to start on site and beyond are closely monitored for all projects approved in our programmes. This robust scrutiny of progress on sites ensures that we are able maximise housing delivery in London and provide additional support as needed to keep projects on track.
Location
Starts on Sites
reported
Barking and Dagenham
820
Bexley
12
Brent
591
Camden
118
Croydon
370
Ealing
205
Enfield
276
Greenwich
82
Hackney
302
Haringey
345
Harrow
211
Havering
23
Hillingdon
49
Hounslow
311
Islington
138
Kensington and Chelsea
87
Lewisham
177
Newham
490
Redbridge
403
Southwark
503
Tower Hamlets
256
Waltham Forest
290
Wandsworth
63
Grand Total
6,122

Emerging Technologies Charter

Neil Garratt: In your manifesto you promised to “create a new Emerging Technologies Charter for London”. When will this be published?

The Mayor: A draft of my Emerging Tech Charter is available onlinehere:https://www.london.gov.uk/publications/emerging-technology-charter-london
It has been developed by my Chief Digital Officer and Smart London Board, with input from the tech sector, other public sector organisations, local Councillors, and, most importantly, Londoners. We are taking an iterative approach and will continue to talk to Londoners, innovators and the public sector to find out how we can make the Charter as useful and practical as possible. We would particularly welcome the thoughts of the Assembly. Theo Blackwell will be in touch to arrange a suitable time to go over the Charter with you, answer your questions, and seek your feedback.

London Business Hub

Emma Best: How many businesses has your London Business Hub supported to date and what targets have you set for it over the next three years?

The Mayor: Since its inception in November 2016 my London Business Hub has supported 4,470 businesses and engaged with nearly 7,000 businesses. Businesses also can access support via the London Business Hub portal and since November 2016 the site has had 316,329 unique users.
The 2021-22 target for medium intensity (up to 3 hours) and high intensity business support (6 hours plus) is 1,000 businesses.
Targets have not been set for future years, on the basis that future grant funding for the London Business Hub has not been confirmed by the Government. In particular, the Business Hub is currently part-funded by London’s share of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme. But Government has yet to indicate how the UK Shared Prosperity Fund that is intended to replace EU programmes - and which was first announced in 2017 - will be allocated or managed.

Gender Employment Gap

Shaun Bailey: What was the gender employment gap in London for each year since 2016?

The Mayor: Percentage point gap
2016
-13.5
2017
-12.6
2018
-12.5
2019
-10.9
2020
-6.8
There is more detail on the London Datastore pages.

Universal Free School Meals

Marina Ahmad: How will you support expanding Universal Free School Meals in London over your second term?

The Mayor: The Survey of Londoners revealed the number of children experiencing food insecurity even before Covid-19 far exceeded the number eligible for Free School Meals in London. The scheme’s income threshold and eligibility criteria mean that nationally over two in five children living below the poverty line are not entitled to Free School Meals. This includes thousands of children in London from families with No Recourse to Public Funds.
Providing Universal Free School Meals would ensure that all children receive at least onehealthy meal a day and reduce the stigma associated with the current eligibility-based scheme.
I support calls for an urgent review of the scheme and will continue lobbying Government to follow the lead of those London boroughs already investing in universal provision for all primary school pupils.

TFL’s PPA

Leonie Cooper: What energy generator will Transport for London's new Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) be contracting with?

The Mayor: In 2021, Transport for London (TfL) is scheduled to begin procurement for two Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) which together will total around 20 per cent of its electricity consumption. TfL will not be able to disclose who the successful bidders are until procurement has been completed. It is, however, seeking to capture responses from as wide a segment of the renewable energy market as possible. TfL aims to complete procurement and take delivery of electricity from a renewable generator via a PPA by the end of April 2022.

Immigration in London

Marina Ahmad: How will you support international Londoners that have made London their home over your second term?

The Mayor: We draw huge strength from the contribution of migrantsand refugeeswho make London their home. I will continue to champion migrant rights, celebrate our diversity, and strategically invest in services that ensure migrants can access their rights and entitlements in London.
The GLA website has advice and information for London’s migrant communities, including the European Londoners Hub and resources for young Londoners with insecure immigration status. I will continue to build on this and make further investment in the immigration advice sector to support more Londoners to access their residency and citizenship rights
The London Strategic Migration Partnership (LSMP), chaired by Deputy Mayor Debbie Weekes-Bernard, brings a range of organisations together to provide strategic policy coordination on migration for the capital. The LSMP seeks to reduce barriers to social integration and access to services facing London's migrant and refugee communities and will coordinate a new programme of work to welcome new arrivals through the Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) visa.

LFB Compensation Reserve

Susan Hall: DMFD107 recommends a £400,000 uplift in the London Fire Brigade's compensation reserve. What is the reasoning behind this - are accidents/costs increasing?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade’s Fire Investigation team attended this incident which involved a disused ticket turnstile. There was a small brick building approximately 1.5m x 3.5m which had electrics inside, however UK Power Network confirmed that there was no power to the building and so this building was discounted as a cause. Following further investigation, two possible causes were identified - discarded cigarettes were found in and around the area and a deliberate act could not be discounted as persons were seen in the area before the fire.
With two possible ignition sources and investigators not being able to determine between the two, the cause was recorded as undetermined. Metropolitan Police Officers were also in attendance.

Holiday Hunger

Marina Ahmad: How will you work to reduce holiday hunger in London over your second term?

The Mayor: The lack of access to free school meals over the school holidays puts significant financial and emotional strain on families. This is why I have been supporting the End Child Food Poverty campaign. This campaign, led by Marcus Rashford, calls for the Government to implement three recommendations in the National Food Strategy to address child food insecurity, and helped secure the expansion of the national Holiday Food and Activities (HAF) programme.
To support the successful delivery of the HAF programme, which will provide holiday food and activities for children receiving benefits-related free school meals, I’m funding Kitchen Social to provide support to local authorities to deliver high-quality HAF programmes throughout 2021.
I will lobby Government to make the HAF programme permanent. I will also continue to lobby for a review of the eligibility criteria for free school meals to ensure all children living in low income households - including those whose families have no recourse to public funds - can benefit from both free school meals and the HAF programme. I will continue to look at what further role I can play in supporting high quality holiday provision for children in London.

Disability Pay Audits

Marina Ahmad: Do you have a timeline for introducing disability pay audits in the GLA family?

The Mayor: I am the first Mayor of London to publish gender and ethnicity pay audits and to have action plans in place on how we plan to end the gaps.
I now want to extend this to include disability pay audits in 2021, where there is sufficient data available to do so. GLA group colleagues will work towards producing this data based on the 2021 snapshot date of 31 March 2021, ready for publication later this year.

Worker’s Rights

Marina Ahmad: How will you support workers’ rights and working conditions over your second term, especially since many Londoners have seen their working terms and conditions deteriorate over the pandemic?

The Mayor: I have long championed good work and fair pay for all Londoners. As we recover from the pandemic, my focus will be on protecting and creating good jobs offering fair pay, conditions and access to in-work support.
Close to 220,000 Londoners work for Good Work Standard-accredited employers. In my second term, I will increase that number while supporting more micro-businesses on their Good Work journey. I have also committed to working with the Living Wage Foundation to make London a Living Wage City Region over my second term.
To address exploitative employment, my Employment Rights Hub is continually updated with information about workers’ rights (in more than 20 languages) and sources of support and legal advice.
I am disappointed that Government have postponed the Employment Bill which would have reformed workplace protections and the enforcement of workers’ rights. Working with unions, I’ll call on Government to prioritise workers’ rights.

Accessible toilets

Susan Hall: How will you support improved access to accessible toilets in London during your mayoral term?

The Mayor: Public toilets are a vital facility, helping to create an inclusive city where people have the confidence to move around with comfort and dignity.
To help more Londoners to be able to use accessible toilets, my London Plan Policy ‘S6 Public Toilets’ requires proposals for large-scale commercial developments open to the public to provide and secure the future management of free publicly accessible toilets suitable for a range of users. My Good Growth investment is creating or refurbishing more than 250 toilet units, including more than 180 which are fully accessible in key locations across London. Furthermore, the Public London Charter includes publicly accessible toilets, including Changing Places toilets, as amenities desired under the ‘Public Welcome’ principle.
I will continue to promote provision of free, publicly accessible toilets in our city.

London recovery for older Londoners

Susan Hall: What work do you plan to do with the London Recovery Board, London boroughs & pan-London bodies to ensure London’s recovery programme meaningfully improves the lives of older Londoners and also focuses on those who have been hardest hit by the pandemic, e.g. those from BAME communities?

The Mayor: The London Recovery Board has put in place several mechanisms to ensure the recovery programme identifies and addresses structural inequalities experienced by Londoners.
There are board members who act as champions for different communities. For instance, Councillor Ruth Dombey champions the interests of older Londoners and Sir Simon Woolley is a champion for people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.
The Board also has a number of members appointed for their expertise on issues of structural inequality, who are also members of my Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Advisory Group. This connection is part of an enhanced role that the group is playing to monitor and advise on the extent to which the recovery programme is addressing inequality, with support from my Equality and Fairness team.
The Board will give further information on how the cross-cutting principle of addressing structural inequalities will deliver for a number of different groups – including older and BAME Londoners – later in the year.

Age-friendly London policy programme

Susan Hall: What work will you do to monitor your recovery actions for their age-friendliness and how will your actions ensure that these actions can play a major part in the development of an age-friendly London policy programme?

The Mayor: I will continue to work with older Londoners and the organisations that represent them – in particular with the London Age-friendly Forum umbrella organisation – and members of my Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Advisory Group, to co-produce how I can make London more age-friendly.
The actions necessary to deliver on my commitment to make London an age-friendly city will be taken forward through my strategies, policies and programmes – and I will push for them to be embedded in the recovery programme wherever relevant. These actions will be informed by the engagement described above – as well as the extensive engagement with older Londoners and their representative organisations that took place before and during the pandemic. I will draw on the results of that engagement, along with intelligence from the London Community Response – which played such a vital role in helping support the frontline organisations that responded to the pandemic – and the Rapid Evidence Review commissioned from Manchester University.

Open data on London’s toilets

Caroline Russell: Will you instruct GLA bodies to work with the Great British Public Toilet Map, and support the provision of open data on toilets from public bodies to make finding an open toilet more convenient?

The Mayor: Public toilets are a key element of the social infrastructure that Londoners and visitors to the city rely on. Resources such as the Great British Toilet Map which draw on open data are a valuable source of information enabling the public to locate toilet facilities.
I support efforts to help people locate toilets and encourage public bodies to support the provision of public open data. Some London local authorities including Camden and Lambeth supply open data on public conveniences and community toilet schemes in their boroughs. Transport for London also provides open data about toilet locations at London Underground, London Overground, DLR and TfL Rail stations.

TfL not holding Covid-19 Risk Assessments for Bus Depots/Garages

Keith Prince: Your response to Question 2021/0121 confirms ‘Transport for London (TfL) does not hold copies of Covid-19 risk assessments for garage premises’. As TfL Chair, how do you justify TfL’s ignorance of (a) a Key recommendation of Sir Michael Marmot’s Phase 1 Report on Covid-19 Impact on London Bus Drivers and (b) TfL’s commitment to “work collaboratively with all operators to share learnings and assure consistent application of the risk assessment tools” found in paragraph 4.7 in its Response to the Phase 1 Study?

The Mayor: These are two separate things. The recommendation being referred to from the UCL research specifically relates to Transport for London’s (TfL) occupational health risk assessment tool (which is used to calculate a "COVID-age" of an individual based on a number of risk factors). This has been shared with the London bus companies and their Occupational Health providers, to ensure a consistent approach, and rapidly identify those most vulnerable to reduce the risk of employee’s exposure to COVID-19. It would not be appropriate for TfL to receive copies of these employee health assessments as they contain sensitive information.
The legal duty to undertake risk assessments and ensure the workplace is safe rests with the employer. TfL has continued and will continue to work collaboratively with all the bus operators and Unite the Union to ensure the latest advice and best practice relating to COVID-19 is being followed, and that appropriate steps are taken to mitigate the spread of the illness. However, it is not for TfL to dictate their workplace risk assessment arrangements.

Toilets on bus Routes (6)

Elly Baker: How many toilets do you plan to introduce on bus routes in 2021/22?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) plans to provide a total of six new toilets this financial year. This includes three toilets negotiated through third party developments, as set out in the answer to Mayor’s Question 2021/1580. In addition, TfL will complete renewals of 10 high priority existing toilets.

Toilets on bus Routes (4)

Elly Baker: TfL ensures that opportunities to provide new facilities are maximised through third party development obligations. What new facilities are due to be provided through such obligations?

The Mayor: The timescales to provide facilities through third-party development obligations are not directly in Transport for London’s (TfL’s) control. For example, an obligation may be negotiated but the development may be cancelled by the developer. However, toilets that are anticipated to be provided this financial year by third parties are:
Designs have been agreed for all of these sites and construction is being progressed. TfL anticipates these being available for use in 2021, subject to the developer’s timescales.

Accountability for London Bus Driver Deaths from Covid-19

Keith Prince: On 18 March 2021, the Deputy Mayor and I participated on a radio interview on the Vanessa Feltz show. When the Deputy Mayor was asked if she took any responsibility for London Bus Driver deaths from Covid-19, she bluntly said “No.” Given that we know (a) that your response to Mayor’s Question 2020/3659 clearly shows that TfL withdrew its staff from bus depots and buses and had no way to inspect onsite conditions; (b) that your response to question 2021/0121 confirms that TfL doesn’t have copies of the risk assessments of its bus contractors’ Covid-19 risk reduction actions; and (c) that your response to question 2021/0544 reveals that TfL doesn’t have any information on the Covid-19 risk carried by bus depot ferry drivers, does the public rejection of any responsibility for London bus driver deaths made by your Deputy Mayor on 18 March 2021 also reflect your view as TfL Chair and Mayor of London?

The Mayor: I am deeply saddened by the deaths of all transport workers from covid-19 in London, and my thoughts remain with the families and friends of the colleagues this devastating virus has taken from us.
Throughout the pandemic, Transport for London (TfL) and the bus operators have continued to follow Government and Public Health England advice, and the scaling back of physical visits was in accordance with the Government advice at the time.
I do not accept that the reduction in visits would have in any way contributed to the number of bus driver deaths. The first phase of the UCL research made clear that the majority of bus driver deaths resulted from infection before the first lockdown began, when the prevalence of the virus in London was much higher than the rest of the country. It also confirmed that lockdown was the most effective measure for reducing mortality among bus drivers. It therefore stands to reason that minimising the number of people on any particular site, at any particular time, was a significant mitigation and a pragmatic one.
TfL has worked closely with the bus operators to ensure that a joined-up approach is being taken across all aspects of the response, and that suitable controls are being implemented to keep staff and passengers safe. While TfL does not hold written copies of the bus operator risk assessments, confirmation was provided through regular conference calls that the key measures were being carried out.

Bus Driver Deaths from Covid-19 since 9 March 2021

Keith Prince: Further to your response to question 2021/0527 please provide me with a breakdown of bus driver deaths from Covid-19 by bus operator (a) since 9 March 2021 to the present and (b) since March 2020 to the present.

The Mayor: Our heroic frontline transport workers have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, and I am extremely grateful to each and every one of them. We commissioned an independent review into the tragic deaths of bus drivers from coronavirus because we wanted to ensure we were doing everything possible to protect staff. The transport workers who have lost their lives are constantly in my thoughts, and we will continue to do everything we can to keep staff and passengers safe.
Since March 2021 there has been one bus driver death. Since March 2020 there have been 52 bus driver deaths. The breakdown by operator is provided in the table below. It is important to note that bus operators vary in size and in the proportion of routes that they operate on TfL’s network.
Bus Driver Deaths by Operator from March 2020
Bus Driver Deaths
Abellio
4
Arriva
5
Go-Ahead
9
HCT
1
Metroline
15
Stagecoach
6
RATP
5
Tower Transit
7
TOTAL
52
Bus Driver Deaths by operator from March 2021
Bus Driver Deaths
Abellio
1

Safety Evaluations of Remote Sign On

Keith Prince: Please provide me with any safety reports TfL conducted before Remote Sign On was put in place on Metroline Routes 139, 306 and 328; Arriva Routes 2, 19, 38 and 73; Tower Transit Routes C2 and 3?

The Mayor: The introduction of remote sign-on was an operator-led initiative. As companies set the terms and conditions of their staff employment and are directly responsible for their health and safety at work, this is not an area where Transport for London (TfL) can direct them. However, it is worth noting remote sign on is not in place on the following routes you have listed: 306, 328, 2, C2 and C3.
As remote sign-on is a complicated issue, TfL has opted to commission research into this practice to help assess its potential application. Unite the Union has been involved in framing the scope of the research so that staff issues are taken into consideration. TfL anticipates the scope being finalised by summer and the outcomes of the research being shared with the main stakeholders by winter.

EU settlement scheme

Leonie Cooper: Has there been any update from the Government about extending the deadline for the scheme? What more are you doing to make sure more EU residents in London are signed up before the deadline?

The Mayor: The 30 June deadline for the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) is fast approaching and I remain committed to supporting European Londoners to secure their status under the scheme. Although the Home Office recently published guidance on late applications, it is clear some people risk losing their entitlements and becoming subject to the Government’s hostile environment policies.
We know there are still people from high-risk groups in London who haven’t accessed the EUSS, including older people, children, rough sleepers and people from Roma communities. The European Londoners Hub contains practical advice and guidance in 29 languages, and I will be joining advocacy and campaign organisations in ramping up our messaging ahead of the deadline, urging people to apply to the scheme.
I have invested more than £1 million in bolstering the capacity of the immigration advice sector, including targeted funding for rough sleepers and children in care and £180,000 for civil society organisations to specifically support vulnerable European Londoners who are harder to reach online.

Age-Friendly London Actions & Targets

Emma Best: How will you “push further so that London is an age-friendly city whatever your circumstances” throughout this mayoral term? Please give specific targets and actions.

The Mayor: I will continue to work with older Londoners and the organisations that represent them – in particular with the London Age-friendly Forum umbrella organisation – and members of my Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group, to co-produce how I can make London more age-friendly.
The actions necessary to deliver on my commitment to make London an age-friendly city will be taken forward through my strategies, policies and programmes – and I will push for them to be embedded in the recovery programme wherever relevant. These actions will be informed by the engagement described above – as well as the extensive engagement with older Londoners and their representative organisations that took place before and during the pandemic. I will draw on the results of that engagement, along with intelligence from the London Community Response – which played such a vital role in helping support the frontline organisations that responded to the pandemic – and the Rapid Evidence Review commissioned from Manchester University.

London Food Strategy

Marina Ahmad: Can you provide an update on how you will continue the work of your London Food Strategy during your second term?

The Mayor: I’m proud of the work we have done to make London a good food city. This work continues to be taken forward in a number of ways through the London Recovery Programme.
This includes the London Recovery Board’s Healthy Food, Healthy Weight mission which will lead vital work to tackle obesity and support access to healthier food. My environment team is leading work to reduce food waste and increase sustainability. And I’ve recently launched the Let’s Do London and London Eats campaigns to attract visitors to the capital and boost our incredible hospitality sector.
Throughout the pandemic, my officers have led work across London to address food insecurity. Need has risen significantly, and this is a clear priority for recovery. Building on work to respond to the impact of Covid-19, work to address food insecurity and increase resilience is already underway. This includes my Food Roots Incubator programme – which is supporting food partnerships across London to tackle food insecurity – as well as support for initiatives such as Kitchen Social, providing support to children on free school meals.

Food insecurity

Marina Ahmad: How will you tackle food insecurity in London during your second term, which has worsened since 2010 and especially during the pandemic?

The Mayor: London experienced high levels of household food insecurity before the pandemic. The 2018/19 Survey of Londoners showed thatnearly two million Londoners – including 400,000 children –werestruggling to accesssufficientfood.This situation has worsened as a result of COVID-19.
Work is already underway to tackle this, including through my Food Roots Incubator programme; the work of the London Food Board’s Food Aid Sub-Group; and my support for Kitchen Social, that aims to address holiday hunger. I am developing further work with my team to address food insecurity under the London Recovery Board’s Robust Safety Net mission.
I’ll continue to do everything I can to tackle the underlying drivers of food insecurity, for example, by bearing down on the cost of living and supporting Londoners to maximise their incomes. But the levers to truly make a difference lie in the hands of the Government. I’ll continue to lobby them to ensure the welfare system is accessible to all and provides for a decent standard of living.

Meals on Wheels

Marina Ahmad: How will you support Meals on Wheels which has been decimated as a result of Government imposed cuts to local authorities since 2010?

The Mayor: Having commissioned research into the food needs of older Londoners and hosted the Older Londoners Food Summit last year, I am acutely aware of the important role that meals on wheels services play in helping Londoners – particularly older Londoners – to access healthy, culturally appropriate food.
A decade of cuts to local authority budgets has hada devastating impact on vital services for older Londoners, including meals on wheels. I will continue calling on the Government to reinvest in frontline services and in a more robust welfare safety net to protect those experiencing food insecurity and malnutrition.
The London Recovery Programme will also provide further opportunities to respond to the priorities of older Londoners and through my Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Group I have been able to ensure that stakeholders from the older Londoners sector are able to play an active role in shaping that programme.

Jewish Manifesto for London

Tony Devenish: With all the positive work of the London Jewish Forum in mind, what actions will you be taking to implement the ideas set out in their Jewish Manifesto for London?

The Mayor: I’d like to thank London Jewish Forum for their work in supporting Jewish Londoners, and for the publication of the Jewish Manifesto for London. I am committed to supporting all Jewish Londoners, and I want to make clear that no anti-Semitism, hate crime and racism towards Jewish Londoners will be tolerated in our city.
My Community Engagement Team have been working closely with the London Jewish Forum, and over the last year my Deputy Mayors have been holding joint meetings with the London Jewish Forum and Jewish communities across London. My Community Engagement Team will be holding further engagement with the London Jewish Forum to discuss next steps for the Jewish Manifesto for London.

Right2Food Charter

Marina Ahmad: How are you supporting the Food Foundation’s Right2Food Charter?

The Mayor: City Hall hosted the first Children’s Food Insecurity Summit last year, where my Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice urged the Government to consider recommendations within the Children’s Right2Food Charter. In my first term I undertook a number of initiatives in support of the Charter’s aims, including supporting the Kitchen Social programme, funding ten local authorities to develop Food Poverty Action Plans and introducing a pilot to embed welfare rights advisers in primary schools.
During the pandemic, I provided emergency funding and supported London-wide infrastructure to ensure food reached families in need. I also joined charities and campaigners urging the Government to do more to support children experiencing food insecurity, including through the implementation of the National Food Strategy’s recommendations.
I remain a vocal supporter of Marcus Rashford’s Child Food Poverty campaign and will continue doing everything within my power to address food insecurity through the London Recovery Board’s ‘Robust Safety Net’ mission.

Manifesto Pledges (1)

Keith Prince: In your manifesto you pledged to “ask TfL to explore the use of more dynamic fare pricing.” Is your intention that this would lead to higher fares at peak times, lower fares at off-peak times or some other change?

The Mayor: I am responsible for setting fares on Transport for London’s (TfL’s) network and will continue to seek to implement fares policies that ensure best value and provide flexibility for customers. I have asked TfL to look at new pricing mechanisms to encourage customers to explore different ways of travelling – including fares that reflect changing demand levels at different times or places across the network.
Many fares are common with National Rail, and implementation of any fare changes to these services would need agreement with the Rail Delivery Group and Department for Transport.

Whipps Cross Hospital Parking and Public Transport

Keith Prince: Given plans to halve car parking space at Whipps Cross Hospital and encourage greater use of public transport, will you therefore support making it easier for Redbridge residents to travel to Whipps Cross on public transport by instructing TfL to investigate rerouting the 66 Bus Route to the hospital, increasing the frequency of the W12 and diverting the 247 to improve connectivity with Leytonstone tube station?

The Mayor: Whipps Cross Hospital has good public transport access, served by eight day routes providing up to 45 buses per hour. There is also a night route. Recent improvements include a frequency increase on route W19, which together with route W15, links the hospital to the Central line for fast onwards links into Redbridge.
The specific bus service changes suggested would have operational implications, including reduced reliability over extended routes and conflicting requirements for limited stand space at Whipps Cross. There would also be a significant cost implication.
Nevertheless, as part of the planning application for the new hospital, Transport for London will be working with the applicant, borough and other stakeholders to get the best possible outcome for those travelling by public transport to Whipps Cross, including residents of the London Borough of Redbridge.

Healthy Start vouchers

Marina Ahmad: How will you continue to promote the take-up of Healthy Start vouchers in London?

The Mayor: The take-up of Healthy Start vouchers by eligible families has decreased substantially over the past few years. Data shows that in February2021,only 52 per cent of eligible women and families in Londonwere receiving Healthy Start vouchers.This compares to67 per cent in February 2016.
Thanks to the great work of Marcus Rashford and many others and as recommended by the independent National Food Strategy, a long-overdue increase in the value of the vouchers has just been implemented.
With the low uptake rates and upcoming digitisation of the scheme, now is the time to act to boost this nutritional safety net for youngmothers-to-beand low-income families. I am exploring the role that London partners can play in supporting increased take-up of Healthy Start vouchers and will keep Assembly members updated.

Transport Workers and Covid-19

Keith Prince: Following up your delayed partial responses to questions 2020/2533 and 2021/0127, please provide me with an updated list of all Transport Workers who have died from Covid-19 in 2020, showing figures by month starting from March 2020 to the present time. This list should include: 1) sex and, if known, ethnicity, 2) date of reported death 3) name of TfL Contractor or TfL Division for whom each victim worked 4) place of work (e.g. Train Station, Bus Depot, Taxi, PHV) and 5) TfL Executive responsible for the transport mode in which each victim worked (e.g. MD Buses, LUL, Taxi and Private Hire, etc).

The Mayor: Sadly, from March 2020 to May 2021, a total of 90 colleagues from Transport for London (TfL) and its partner organisations passed away in service due to COVID-19 related illness. Every death in service is taken very seriously by TfL. TfL has put in place a range of additional support for families and colleagues where there has been a bereavement.
A summary of the information requested has been provided in the attached tables.
Unfortunately, TfL is unable to report on the number of Taxi or Private Hire drivers who have died in service – please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2021/1975.

The Mayor: 1974 Transport Workers and Covid-19 data.xlsx

TfL’s Ignorance of Deaths of Taxi and PHV Drivers from Covid-19

Keith Prince: In your responses to questions 2020/2533 and 2021/0127 you state: “TfL is unable to report on the number of Taxi or Private Hire Drivers who have died in service as they do not have access to this information.” How can you explain this level of ignorance about the safety of a mode of service where TfL regulates drivers’ working conditions and terms of service? Please provide me with evidence that TfL has attempted to gather this data and any estimates TfL has made of Taxi and PHV Drivers who’ve died from Covid-19 since March 2020.

The Mayor: Every death of a taxi or private hire driver as a result of the pandemic is a tragedy, and I send my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of those who have lost their lives.
At the start of the pandemic, Transport for London (TfL) established weekly meetings with all taxi and private hire driver representatives and large PHV operators and taxi app companies so it could better understand the issues the industry faced and offer support through the pandemic. One of the topics discussed in these meetings was the feasibility of gathering information about the tragic loss of life within the industry. TfL asked trade representatives and private hire operators to notify it if they learned of any drivers that had sadly lost their lives due to coronavirus. Unfortunately, it was agreed through these meetings that there was no mechanism in which this data could be reliably collated, despite all parties agreeing it would be respectful to do so.
TfL has learnt of the deaths of some licensees through media reporting and in some instances will be informed by the licensee’s next of kin.Where possible, TfL writes to the licensees next of kin to offer its condolences.
I’m conscious of both the personal and economic cost of the pandemic on the taxi and private hire industries, and I’ve asked TfL to continue to work closely with the trade on the support available.

Ensuring the Effectiveness of E-Scooter Trials

Tony Devenish: What is TfL doing to ensure that, when the e-scooter trial starts in London, we do not see a sharp expansion in their illegal usage and that proper efforts are made to ensure anyone caught riding e-scooters unsafely and illegally receives an appropriate punishment?

The Mayor: Enforcement and any associated punishment of the illegal use of private e-scooters remains a police matter. The Metropolitan Police Service will continue to take enforcement action against illegal e-scooters during the trial. Action by the police can include issuing the rider with a £300 fixed penalty notice for no insurance, and six penalty points on their driving licence. The e-scooter trial will be the only legal way to ride e-scooters in London.
Transport for London does not have any powers to prevent the illegal use of e-scooters on the road network or to change the fact that private e-scooters can be legally bought and sold.

Sewell Report

Tony Devenish: What actions are you taking in response to the Sewell report from the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities?

The Mayor: There are a wide range of activities that I have progressed that meet the majority of the recommendations made by the report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities.
I was disappointed by the report’s conclusion that Britain’s minority ethnic groups do not face systemic disadvantage, given the Commission’s acknowledgement of the wide range of aspects of life in the UK where people from some of these groups constantly experience disproportionately negative outcomes.
My own submission to the Commission’s consultation emphasised the role that structural racism plays in creating these outcomes, the work I am doing to address it, and what more needs to be done. Sadly the Commission took a different approach.
I am not currently planning to take any new, specific actions as a result of this report and I await the Government’s response to the report.

Vehicle Scrappage Schemes (1)

Elly Baker: In MQ 2019/6230 you said, “Given the lack of support to date I have had to make extremely difficult budget decisions to find a further £48 million to enable me to provide scrappage schemes for microbusinesses, charities and those on low-incomes. I have asked Government to match this funding but have not yet had a response.” Did you ever receive a response to your request and, if so, will you publish it?

The Mayor: My submission to the Spending Review included the creation of a national £1.5 billion Clean Air Fund to enable cities to fairly implement Clean Air Zones and tackle emissions, including through vehicle scrappage and retrofit schemes. In terms of funding for London it proposed that this should at the very least match my existing £48 million scrappage scheme in the capital.
I was clear that it will not be possible for the Government to achieve its net zero target by 2050 if it does not invest to deliver net zero in London. I was extremely disappointed that the Chancellor did not address thescale of the environmental challengesfacing the country.

Vehicle Scrappage Schemes (2)

Elly Baker: In October 2020 your submission to the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review called for a national £1.5 billion Clean Air Fund. What response have you received from the Government on this proposal?

The Mayor: Please see my response to 2021/1565.

Adult Literacy in London

Nicholas Rogers: What was the adult literacy rate in London for each year since 2016? Please give a breakdown by age, gender, ethnicity, and London borough.

The Mayor: There are no data for adult literacy post-2016 for London, or elsewhere in England. The most recent data on adult literacy rates in England comes from the Skills for Life Survey, which was last carried out in 2011 and commissioned by the then Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Since delegation of the Adult Education Budget to the GLA in 2019/20, we can report the number of learners accessing basic English courses in London, with breakdowns by level and geography. In 2019/20 (full academic year data for London), there were 29,330 learners enrolled in 37,980 English (literacy) learning courses, and 44,120 learners enrolled in 81,590 ESOL (language) qualifications. AEB data are published on the London Datastore and the most recent release covers delivery from August 2019 to July 2020.

Fire at Crystal Palace Park incident number 40472

Len Duvall: I understand that a Fire Investigation team attended this incident after the 4 pump fire which occurred in ‘outbuildings' to the Crystal Palace Park Sports Centre. Incident number 40472. Please can you advise me what the cause of the fire was.

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade’s Fire Investigation team attended this incident which involved a disused ticket turnstile. There was a small brick building approximately 1.5m x 3.5m which had electrics inside, however UK Power Network confirmed that there was no power to the building and so this building was discounted as a cause. Following further investigation, two possible causes were identified - discarded cigarettes were found in and around the area and a deliberate act could not be discounted as persons were seen in the area before the fire.
With two possible ignition sources and investigators not being able to determine between the two, the cause was recorded as undetermined. Metropolitan Police Officers were also in attendance.

A Right to Remain Document for EU Citizens

Hina Bokhari: If the Government continues to refuse providing EU citizens with a physical document proving their right to remain, will you set up a London-wide scheme so that we can avoid another Windrush-style scandal for the capital’s many thousands of EU citizens? Such a scheme would also enable the capital’s EU citizens to assure landlords and employers of their right to remain.

The Mayor: While EU citizens who have successfully applied to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) have a digital record of their status, there is no doubt that the lack of printed evidence creates barriers in accessing work, housing and essential services. The lack of physical proof of status is already causing problems for people leaving and re-entering the UK. This risk will increase after the EUSS deadline on 30 June. We have seen the harm that the Government’s discriminatory hostile environment policies have had on Londoners, including the Windrush generation and their families and the Government risks recreating this discrimination for EU Londoners.
I have supported calls to introduce physical evidence of settled status and expressed my concerns around the discrimination that EU citizens may face when they have to evidence their rights and entitlements. The Home Office must develop physical proof of EUSS status and I will continue to work with civil society and local authorities to urge the Government to protect the rights of EU citizens and their families.

Regulation of Waking Watch Providers

Unmesh Desai: Leaseholders would like to see greater regulation of Waking Watch providers in order to give them confidence that the process is transparent, and Waking Watches are being used as a last resort and short-term solution. What support can you and the Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience offer to them in this?

The Mayor: Any regulation with regards to waking watchesisamatter for central government, while the responsibility to instigate and manage a waking watch or mitigation measures sits with the Responsible Person. However, the most recent National Fire Chief Council Simultaneous Evacuation guidance (October 2020) emphasised the need to consider the installation of common fire alarms where measureslike waking watchesare now, or are likely to be, in place for the longer term. The guidance also defines ‘short term’ as no more than 12 months and sets out how residents can provide a waking watch capability themselves. London Fire Brigade seeks to provide support to residents through fire safety audits of blocks with interim measures in place, in conjunction with regular visits by fire crews for familiarisation and, if applicable, to check waking watches are in place and operating in line with expectations.

Business Advisory Board (1)

Susan Hall: Please outline how often the Business Advisory Board provides you with advice and what exactly the nature of their advice to you is.

The Mayor: My Business Advisory Board advises me and my team both through quarterly formal meetings and focused work and discussions outside of these meetings. The Board has contributed advice, feedback and ideas to my statutory and Mayoral strategies such the Economic Development, Skills, and Diversity & Inclusion strategies, programmes such as the Good Work Standard; and policy development in areas relating to business and growth, skills and the environment among others.
More recently the Board has been providing advice around our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, re-opening programme and social and economic recovery work, from sharing insights on COVID-19 economic scenarios to giving advice on issues supporting the cultural and creative sector. They have also advised on how we could get business to support COVID-testing and the vaccine rollout; and how to ensure diversity is embedded in all strands of London’s recovery work.

Bus Drivers (4)

Elly Baker: What plans do you have to introduce a fairer pay structure for bus drivers?

The Mayor: I’m proud of the progress that’s been made so far on bus driver pay and I am absolutely committed to ensuring bus driving remains an attractive career in London. A lot has been done already to promote this, such as the introduction of the bus driver’s minimum professional wage in December 2016 of £23,000, which increased to £25,867.16 in April 2021. The ‘Licence for London’ (LfL) was established in January 2018 which seeks to maintain drivers’ wages if they move between bus companies, recognising the years of experience and service drivers have attained and also helps to keep drivers in the sector.
More recently, in February 2020, I introduced the Bus Driver Retention Scheme which aims to reward drivers for their service with a retention payment of £1,000 upon reaching 2 years’ experience and further £600 upon reaching 3 years’ experience. All those with over three years’ experience at the launch of the scheme also received a £1,600 one off payment.
I will continue to work with Transport for London and the bus operating companies so that bus driver pay is as fair as possible.

Toilets on bus Routes (1)

Elly Baker: How many Bus Routes have toilet facilities and how many do not?

The Mayor: I’ve been working hard to resolve the lack of bus driver facilities left behind by the previous Mayor since I was first elected in 2016. Transport for London (TfL) continues to build on the extra £6 million that’s been invested in driver toilets and rest rooms.
In cases where third-party facilities were temporarily withdrawn during lockdown, urgent replacements have been introduced. In some cases, TfL has converted empty shops into large rest rooms and provided significantly better facilities, which also assists with social distancing.
Following this recent investment on the most-needed services, all bus routes now have access to a toilet. The bus network, and access to existing toilets, changes regularly and TfL works closely with bus operating companies and Unite the Union to identify and resolve any new priorities.
A recent update on TfL’s programme for bus driver welfare and toilet facilities can be found in the papers for the Safety Security and Human Resources Panel on the 10th February 2021: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/safety-sustainability-hr

Toilets on bus Routes (2)

Elly Baker: How many bus routes are classified as either Priority 1, 2, 3 or new in terms of their current level of toilet provision?

The Mayor: There are no routes categorised as priority one currently (in other words routes with no access to a toilet). There are three routes categorised as priority two – which are those with access to a toilet but not for all of the operating day.
There are 18 routes categorised as priority three – which are those with a round trip greater than 150 minutes – and a toilet at one end only. There are two routes categorised as new where a toilet will be provided to support planned service changes.